Home brewing in Connecticut Discussions - CT Beer Trail

Saturday, October 31, 2009

I've been asked to once again assist in the planning of the 5th Ever Not-So-Snooty Beer, Wine & Cheese Tasting Adventure. (see info on last year's event)

I'll be reaching out to local breweries and brew pubs again this year seeking their participation. Last year we had great support from local breweries and brew pubs and we're hoping for even more this year!

If you're part of a brewery and you're reading this, please consider participating. Leave a comment with your contact info, or shoot me an email and I'll get back to you... (bryon at homebrewbeer.net)

When: 11/20/20096:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.Where: The New England Air Museum Windsor Locks, CTWhat: The event includes locally produced beer, wine and cheese, delicious hors d'oeuvres, raffles, coffee and dessert.Price: Tickets are limited - $50 ($40 for Military)Tickets are $60 at the doorso pre-order tickets and save!Email here for more ticket information!

I'll be posting more details on what breweries and brew pubs will be attending as they confirm their participation. Hope to see you all there!Who's going to be there?Here's the list of breweries and brew pubs so far...

Sunday, October 11, 2009

I'm told I was quoted in Air Force Times' "Off Duty" section regarding my hobby of homebrewing as it connects to my military service. I have not seen it yet, but I hope I came off OK... Anyone see it? Clue me in, my BX is small and does not carry the AF Times...

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Welcome to HomeBrewBeer.Net

For years I thought about making my own home brewed beer, but thought it would be too difficult. Now I'm finally giving it a go! I will be documenting my experiences here in the hopes of enabling others to learn from my mistakes and hopefully have some fun in the process.

In addition to discussing my attempts at home brewing, I'll also occasionally write about other related topics. Anything from home brew kits, beer reviews & brewery tours, to religion, healthy diets and responsible drinking will be fair game. In the mean time, I invite you to join me as I embark on a brave new journey into home brewing! Cheers!

Soap Box: Beer should be enjoyed responsibly! Drink quality beer and drink it in moderation! Nobody likes a drunkard!

Enjoying quality beer is about taking the time to savor its taste, color, smell, texture and over all quality. Over indulging impairs your ability to do so, and should be avoided.

Learn How to Brew Beer Today!

Homebrewing for Dummies is a clear, concise, how-to guide for the do-it-yourselfer. As it turns out, making beer isn't hard to do if you have a stove, some basic equipment, a little time on your hands, and a wife that wont divorce you if the kitchen smells like a brewery.

Feel like diving into home brewing head first? You should, but don't go it alone. This book will get you on the right path towards making your own Hefeweizen or India Pale Ale with ease. You'll get the recipes and solid step-by-step instructions. This book covers just about everything, but you're on your own when it comes to your wife.

The Basics of Home Brewing

Considering making your own beer? Wondering what it involves? Here's the skinny... The entire process will take about four weeks or so. Once completed, you'll be able to enjoy and proudly share your beer with friends and family. Now, what could be more rewording than that? Here's a high level view of the entire process:

Brewing

Get the equipment and buy ingredients. Your best bet is to grab a starter kit online or from your local beer making supply shop. (30 minutes or so, not including shipping times)

Clean and sanitize the equipment (15 minutes or so, but do a good job, this is very important!)

Brew the beer and start the fermentation (60-90 minutes the first time, my first batch was closer to 90 minutes, that wort takes a long time to boil!)

Fementation

Waiting, waiting and more waiting. Look at the pretty bubbles! (typically about a week)

Bottle Your Beer

Takes about an hour once fermentation is complete. (don't bottle too early, they could expload!)

Bottle Conditioning

Waiting, waiting and more waiting. Look at the pretty bottles! (usually two to four weeks)